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This report highlights the financial trends and challenges faced by United Church of Christ congregations, including property valuations, financial controls, child abuse prevention programs, lease agreements, background checks, and abuse prevention training.
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Special Report: Insurance Board’s Findings - Church Vulnerability 46% received property valuations that were more than the amount listed on their policies. 29% had property values 15% greater than insured amount, and 22% had property values 25% greater than insured amount. Variances in values are common but can be a concern when they are significantly (greater than 10% of total insured value) out of line and churches may find that their policies will not cover the replacement of their buildings if they face a total loss. 51% did not have a formal written policy for financial controls. A formal system of financial controls is needed to include “separation of duties” principles which should address handling of cash collections, purchasing, electronic fund transfers, credit card use, and banking procedures. The procedures will assure the integrity of church assets and protect individuals who conduct financial transactions. 28% of the churches surveyed had yet to establish a formal child abuse prevention program. Written policies and procedures for child abuse prevention are needed which include elements of screening and selection, adult-child interaction guidelines, monitoring procedures, security, training and reporting of suspected abuse as required by state law. The objective of a comprehensive program is prevention of abuse of children or other vulnerable adults. 34% did not require a lease or use agreement for third par-ties utilizing church facilities. Whether or not rent is paid, churches need to utilize formal lease or use agreements with all non-church user groups. Written agreements define responsibilities to maintain and secure premises and to provide appropriate insurance coverage. Lease/use agreements should contain an indemnity agreement by which the tenant/user agrees to hold harmless, defend and indemnify the church for claims arising out of the user’s use of the facilities to include injury to user’s employees. For permanent tenants/users, agreements define responsibilities to provide liability, property and workers’ compensation insurance. • 20% did not obtain background checks for employees and/or volunteers. The first component of an abuse prevention pro-gram is the proper screening of volunteers/employees. Basic due diligence requires that all staff and volunteers who work with children receive a background check and best practice is to run a check on all individuals that will work with the church. • 16% did not provide abuse training. The second component of an abuse prevention plan is the documented training program by which staff/volunteers learn about predatory behavior and how to recognize that a child is in distress. Abuse prevention training should be provided to all staff/volunteers that work with children.
Special Report: The Church Building BUILDING OWNERSHIP Based on a survey of congregations of the United Church of Christ, most (92.9%) report that they own their building/place of worship (with or without mortgage). And of those who own real estate, churches own between, on average, one to two buildings (1.60). BUILDING AGE Surveyed congregations report an average building age of 97 years, with buildings ranging from newly-constructed buildings that are less than a year old to places of worship older than 340 years. Subsequently, United Church of Christ congregations report that, since their founding, they have occupied, on average, two to three (2.42) different places of worship. BUILDING RENOVATIONS & PROJECTS The United Church of Christ Cornerstone Fund was founded in 1993 to assist churches and affiliated ministries with financing for construction and renovation projects. In 2019, the Cornerstone Fund, with the help of its investors, is supporting more than 225 congregations and ministries with financing for projects that help ministries save $3.1 million per year in interest charges with loan refinancing; complete building improvement projects that have reduced energy usage by more than 350,000 kWh per year; make accessibility improvements that serve more than 12,000 people; build more than 350,000 square feet of space; expand local daycares and early childhood development centers; develop and built affordable housing; enlarge their food pantries and homeless shelters; and, renovate their community rooms/ centers and places of worship.
